And here is my newst chapter for MttM. Shorter, I know- this one was a pain in the butt to write. But- You learn Danny's Zanpakuto's name in this chapter too...and you get to meet someone else here too ^^. Hope you enjoy- and sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes!

~I Do not Now DP nor Bleach~

Method to the Madness~

-Previously-

Danny nodded before sitting down in the middle of his floor and crossed his legs. He pulled out his Zanpakuto and placed it in his lap, to try and feel closer to it. He then closed his eyes and relaxed. He let his muscles unravel and evened out his breathing. He cleared his mind and started searching in the darkness for any way to enter his Inner world.

He suddenly had the vision of a drop of water hit a smooth surface and rippling out, the ripples turning white as it went, turning his whole vision ivory.

He opened his eyes.

Chapter Three

Danny blinked a few times to clear the spots out of his vision before he focused on what was around him. He noticed with pride that he was indeed back in his Inner World. The frozen tundra spanned out as far as the eye could see.

"Hey, Eskimo! Are you here?" Danny yelled.

"I'm right behind you, Daniel." Danny turned to see that the man was standing a dozen feet away, watching him. "I must congratulate you on successfully entering your Inner World on your first try. Very impressive."

Danny gave a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of his head. "Well, it just went with my instincts so…"

The Eskimo nodded and he could faintly see the skin around the man's pale blue eyes and scar crinkling with a smile that was hidden under the scarf. "Yes, I see." A pause. "Do you think you could hear my name this time, now that you are here?"

Danny nodded. "Yes. I want to know your name."

The man nodded, still smiling. "Very well. My name it …"

Danny once more heard silence. "Damn it!" the teen hissed, turning away in disappointment.

The man was silent for a moment before he broke it. "Daniel, what do you wish to do with my power?"

Danny looked back over at him. "To protect, of course. That's all I've ever wanted to do with my powers." Danny then looked away and reached up and behind him to grab the hilt of his Zanpakuto and pulled it out in front of him. "When I had my ghost powers, I used them to fight and protect my town from the other ghost that attacked. I want to do that with my new powers as well." Danny looked up at the Eskimo. The man nodded then reached up and grabbed at the scarf. He yanked it off, revealing the bottom half of his face.

Danny had to admit he was surprised. Now that he was getting a full look at his Zanpakuto's face, he realized just how young he looked. The Eskimo looked to be in his early to mid-twenties. He was expecting him to look older with that scar that marred the right side of his face.

He looked back at the scarf that had been tossed to the side, watching as an invisible wind caught it. Danny's eyes then widened when it swirled to the ground in a spiral and started to change shape, taking on a humanoid form. Once the scarfs transformation was complete, Danny's jaw nearly dropped to the ground as he stared at the person that now stood before him, just feet away from the Eskimo.

Danny had to say it reminded him of his ghost half. The only differences were the outfit, which was an introverted version of his own Shihakusho. He's eyes had neon green irises on black sclera with a wide smirk on his face. He was so pale that is matched the messy snow white hair on top of his head.

"Tch." The thing chuckled in a distorted and warbled voice. It then reached behind its own head and drew a Zanpakuto similar to Danny's own, only it was darker and the cloth on the hilt was grey instead of blue. "Well now, what have we got here?" it asked again in that creepy voice that sent shivers down Danny's spine.

"Daniel." The teens Zanpakuto spirit said, getting his attention as he spoke, reviling sharper than average eyeteeth. "To truly find out if you are worthy of my name and power, you will fight yourself. If you prove yourself, I will tell you my name again… and you had better hear it next time!" he then vanished in whirl of snow, reappearing on top of an icy rock formation a little ways away.

Danny looked back towards the thing that resembled his ghost half, and gasped, ducking to the side just in time to avoid a blade through his forehead.

"Don't look away from me, Danny-boy!" it yelled with sadistic glee. "I want to fight you some before I kill you!"

Danny cursed himself and parried the next blow reflexively before jump away to get some distance. He wasn't used to close combat like this. He was used to firing energy blast from a distance before moving into the strike the opponent before moving away again. But this was a permanent close combat fight, seeing as how he had no long range weapons to use.

"Running away, are we?" the other version of him taunts. "Weak! Pathetic! You are not fit to rule this world, nor our Zanpakuto's power!"

Danny gritted his teeth with determination, remember what Eskimo had said. To prove that he was worthy of his name and power, he needed to fight and win against this other version of himself. Danny planted his feet firmly in the snow and launched himself with a battle cry back at his other self, sword raised to strike.

I will prove myself.

Their swords clashed and the ring of steel echoed around the area as Danny pushed down with as much strength as he could. The creature below him gave a demented laugh and returned the favor. Danny jumped back, avoiding another attempt to cleave him in two, before charging back in again.

I will win.

Danny managed to find a split second opening in the albinos guard, and dove, slashing his side, staining it red. The thing only laughed harder and swiped, catching Danny's cheek with the tip of its own blade before he could avoid it.

"You won't be able to win, Danny-boy! You're weak! You can't even hear your Zanpakuto's own name when he repeatedly tried to it tell you! It's pathetic!" the Albino taunted ruthlessly. Danny used another small opening to nick his opponents upper arm, ripping the sleeve and staining it as well.

Danny snarled and lashed out at the pale copy, almost managing to get him in the throat.

I will fight…

The albino jumped in the air and lashed out with the heel of his feet in a roundhouse kick to try and knock Danny out over the temple, but Danny brought his blade and arm up to deflect the blow, lashing out with his fist to try and connect, but missed when it jumped away and out of range laughing as it came back down on him once more.

The thing slammed its grey blade down hard onto Danny's silver one, causing sparks to fly. "You're scared! You're scared because you might accidentally kill your opponent in battle. That's what makes you so weak!" it laughed then leaned forward across the blades so he could hiss into Danny's ear. "But you need to realize…sometimes, in order to protect what you love…you can't be afraid to kill!"

Danny's eyes widened at those words before narrowing, then pushed hard against the phantom, and threw him off and away a few yards. He glared at the copy as he filtered those words, thinking them through to the 'T'. Danny had to admit, what the albino had said was true; that sometimes he couldn't be afraid to kill an enemy if it meant saving his loved ones.

As much as the thought of taking a life made him queasy, he understood that sometimes there was no other alternative. He didn't necessarily have to kill his targets, but it was better than being afraid to lift the blade he wielded to defend the weak.

He looked the copy in the eyes from across the distance; his own eyes gained a light green sheen as he took those words to heart. He then charged at his current enemy, and swung toward its chest. The albino laughed wildly with excitement, now that his real copy was taking this fight seriously, and dodged the blow by leaping away.

Danny paused and took a moment to glance at Eskimo who was watching him intently.

I will fight…to PROTECT, no matter what the cost!

"You're mine!" the creature yelled, having leapt back into the air and was about to bring his blade down on Danny's head.

"If you want to know my name Danny, this is your last chance! Hear it and scream my names to the heaven above! It is-!"

Clash!

The Albino raised an eyebrow when he saw that Danny had blocked his attack with his blade, using one hand to hold it up. Its eyes then went wide when the boy's bright cerulean eyes looked up at him with determination as a grin split his own features, a light glowing green sheen reflecting his resolve in the blue orbs. Energy suddenly swarmed around the teen's blade in whitish blue swirls tipped with green.

"Freeze all Enemies…" Danny muttered, gazed still locked on the glowing green on black. Then the blue eyes widened as he finished the sentence in a powerful yell. ",Tōshō!"*

The explosion of energy forced the pale version of the teen to be thrown back and land in the snow a few feet away, eyes still wide with disbelief. He watched as the snow cleared to reveal his human self, his Zanpakuto having changed its form.

The blade was now pure white, like the snow around them, and the guard was now made of white ice in the shape of a snowflake. There was even a whitish grey ball of fur dangling off a short white chain on the base of the handle. The white blade had a light blue sheen to it where the sun reflected off of its smooth surface matching the still blue handle. He could feel the cold energy coming of the pair in waves.

He almost didn't even see the boy move. Next thing he knew, Danny was on top of him, running the freezing blade through his chest.

Danny grimced but stared down at the albino that he had just run through, and watched as its eyes widened in surprise and pain. It then glared up at him and smirked. "Well …I lost." it said softly.

Danny continued to stared and didn't move at first, until his Zanpakuto spirit- Tōshō, was standing right beside him. "Good job, Daniel. You now know my name, so I will now be able to start teaching you about my powers and how to wield them." he announced proudly.

Danny pulled back, taking the sword with him as he went, grimce deepening slightly at the dark blood that now stained the once pure white blade. The albino stumbled for a second when he was freed from the steel, but then straightened and moved to stand next to Tōshō, his arms now crossed and hands inside of the sleeves, not looking at all bothered from the stab wound it was currently donning. In fact, as Danny looked at it, it had stopped bleeding and closed up, fading away as if it were never there, causing the teen to blink with surprise.

"I guess my work here is done…for now." The copy said.

Tōshō nodded. "And you have done a good job too. Thank you."

The creature snorted before turning back to Danny, insane smirk on its face one more as his body started to evaporate. "Well, this is 'bye' for now, Aibou. Keep getting stronger, and enjoy that power…while you can."* It said, just before it completely vanished, turning into the scarf once more that was now lying on the snow, leaving Danny alone with Tōshō once more.

Blinking at the albino's choice of words, Danny sighed and shoved it side and turned to the man before him with a smile. He then tilted his head slightly and studied the man. "So…what was keeping me from hearing your name?"

The blue haired man inclined his head with a smile. "Resolve."

Danny blinked slowly in confusion. "Resolve?"

"You lacked the proper resolve needed to fight with me. You were scared. You were letting fear and doubt cloud you head, creating a barrier that preventing my name from reaching you. When you fought with your copy a minute ago, that gave you the resolve that was required to hear my name."

Danny took that in before giving a wide smile. "Thanks… Tōshō. And…to that copy as well, I guess. He was the one that helped me out."

Tōshō smiled widely and chuckled. "I should be the one thanking you, Daniel. For my power can now be used, instead of just sitting here idle and unused."

Danny grinned. "All in a day's work I guess."

Tōshō nodded and reached out and placed a hand on the boy's messy mop of dark hair- ruffling it. "For you, yes it is. Now, go ahead back to the real world. I do believe it is time for you to give my powers a trial run."

Danny, ecstatic about being able to use his Zanpakuto's power properly, gave a playful salute as he focused on leaving his Inner World. "Alright."

When the world around him vanished, surrounded by darkness, Danny forced his eyelids open to see that he was now inside of his bedroom. He took a moment to look around and check the time on the clock by his bed side, Red was out cold on the bed, sleeping contently in his body. Danny moved and stood up, bringing his blade- Tōshō up with him. As soon as he was standing, Danny felt a chill in his chest that escaped up his throat and through his lips in a light blue mist.

"Aaooww!"

Danny turned, just as Red jolted up at the sound as well. Their eyes met and Danny nodded at him. "Stay here. I'll go take care of it." He said and then headed towards his window, sliding it open.

"Be careful, Danny." Red said, reclining back against the headboard.

Danny grinned and jumped out the window. He landed on the ground below and started running towards the sound, hearing the Hollow's wailing every few minutes. He finally found it several blocks away, this one different from the last one. It reminded him of some mutated humanoid bat. It turned its mask face when he sensed Danny's approaching presence, letting out another wail in warning.

Danny grinned at the challenge. "Alright, Tōshō. Tell me what to do." He said, clenching his Zanpakuto tightly in front of him.

"Release me first." Danny did so, and he now held his pure white blade in his hand with the icey snowflake guard. "Now, channel some of your spirit energy into my blade. Then…" Danny smiled and did as Tōshō instructed, step by step. "Now, repeat what I say!"

Danny then raised the blade above his head as did as he was told, swung the blade in the Hollows direction, "Hyōno Arashi!" Danny yelled as he swung, and a freezing blue arch of energy was released from the blade before solidifying into ice, rocketing towards the Hollow. When the attack connected, it froze the Hollow as it split it in half. Danny watched in awe as the Hollow dissipated after being destroyed, the ice shattering and falling like glittering snow to the ground. "That…was pretty cool. What was that?" Danny asked, looking his blade in question.

"That was my signature attack 'Hyono Arashi'- which translates to 'Hail Storm' in English." Tōshō told him. "I have a few other attacks, but none as powerful and effective as that one when it connects. I will teach them to you at a later date. Right now, head home and get some rest. Even though it is the weekend tomorrow, I know you teenagers love your sleep." He mocked.

Danny rolled his eyes and sheathed his sword back on his back. "Yeah, guess you're right." He turn turned and headed back home and climbed back up through his window.

"You know, you can walk on air, right?" Tōshō said with amusement as he watched his Soul Reaper struggle to climb into the second story window.

Danny paused, halfway through the window and glared. What do you mean by that? And why didn't you tell me sooner!?

"And loose this form of entertainment?"

"Jerk." Danny muttered out loud as he finished climbing in through the window and into his room. Whatever, I'll work on that later. I want to sleep right now. He then turned and nudged the snoozing Red, waking him up. "Time to switch." He said, and entered his body, catching the pill when it flew out of his mouth. He then stuffed it back in the fox plushy, and crawled under his covers. Red then curled up at Danny's feet and relaxed, but not before he threw in a comment.

"You kick me off this bed, and I'll make your life miserable whenever I'm in your body. Got it?" the plushy stated.

Danny chuckled. "Noted. Night, Red."

"Mhm."

Danny closed his eyes and snuggled into the pillow, sinking into the comfort of sleep.

End of Chapter Three

Translations

Tōshō : Frostbite (Yes, I know it's the same as Frostbite of the Far Frozen- but I couldn't think of a better name for an ice type Zanpakuto...at least it's in Japanese, yes?)

Aibou : Partner

Comments? Concerns? Anyone like what I named Tōshō signature attack? Anyone not like it?

Review? Please? With how little reviews I am getting, I don't think I will continoue this. Makes me think it's not as good as I had hoped. Review if you wish for me to continue! *glares at the people who had fav'ed and Alerted the story, yet leave no reviews.*

Rae